Marie Bugarel, a research assistant professor at Texas Tech University’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, has discovered a new serotype of the Salmonella bacteria. The new serotype has been confirmed by the Pasteur Institute in Paris, the international reference center for Salmonella.

During her research phase, Bugarel was in search of ways to reduce Salmonella in food and uncovering new methods to improve public health. Her solutions included controlling Salmonella within the cattle population, which broadened her knowledge of the bacteria’s biological and genetic makeup. This is how Bugarel discovered the never before seen strain of Salmonella.

Traditionally, new serotypes are named after the city in which they are discovered. As such, this new one will go by the name of Salmonella Lubbock (officially Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Lubbock).